In this interview spotlight, we chat with The Violent Hippy about influences, the newest project, the digital music world and more.

Full Q&A along with links and a stream of Souled Me below.

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Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)

I moved out to the Poconos in north-eastern Pennsylvania from Brooklyn when I was around 5 and every weekend was back in brooklyn to either see my grandparents or go to church. Till they moved and I got older. But it’s about a 2 hour drive from Philly and a hour or so from New York. And my style of music I make is kinda of hard to describe honestly. Deadass bro, I just make whatever I’m diggin’ or vibin’ really. If I had to give some descriptions of my style though I’d say it’s raw, organic, unrestrained and biographical. I’d list similar genre types but I get inspiration from so many places we’d be here for days going through em. Plus I could give a fuck about em regardless. I understand the reasoning but to me all music is just music, labels always come with restrictions or limits.

What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?

It has just been something I’ve always been so fucking passionate about really. Since way back fam when i was a young kid and only a listener. Like the day I fell in love with hip hop or just music in general was the day I knew I had to do this shit for the rest of my life no matter what anybody told me. Truthfully it’s an obsession of its own unique kind that basically motivates itself at this point which is good and bad. But aside from that I’d say it’s honestly the fact that I can’t see myself doing anything else.

How is your new release different than previous ones? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?

My new release differs from my priors in many ways I’d say such as quality, vibe and structural upbringing. Considering I handled almost all the production on this next project along with the mixing, engineering and mastering done by either me or my brother KO Beverly, it gave me more that much more control when it came to telling my story. “SOULED ME” is just another part to the story following up “Life’s Vices” and takes you back about 4 years ago when i was in a different mind set. I did some fucked up shit for the fun of it or for a come up because there is really nothing else to do in these woods. Also being broke and bored was a dangerous combination for me i guess. And I ended up definitely having to for it pay with an even more of a fucked up situation. It’s not like my family was dead broke but we aint have shit to spare at all either. My parents just did the best they could like any other good parents would and I appreciate that. And well I mean I set out to accomplish a couple of different goals for this project while some weren’t able to be achieved others were able to be taken further and beyond. Like the production and instrumentation I got to put on this project or even some of the features bought together for it. Now I just really can’t fucking wait to release it for my supporters and fans.

Do you face any challenges as an indie musician in a digital age? On the flip side, how has technology helped you (if it has)?

I mean a few but the only real challenge I’d say is that there’s so many other indie artists along with information and entertainment of all sorts available to us now that in this digital age one can get overlooked sometimes for sure. However, the flip side is that no matter the art or music there’s almost always an outlet for you to get heard and appreciated. It’s weird but cool as fuck of course because everybody can kind of find their own place to share their vibes and similar or new ideas.

Where can we follow you online and hear more music?

You can follow me on Twitter @TheViolentHippy. On Soundcloud & youtube just search The Violent Hippy. And On Instagram my username is the_violent_hippy. And I’ll have my music up on Spotify and a lot more music streaming services in the coming months this year.

Anything else before we sign off?

Yea, shout out to K.O Beverly, Chooie, My brother Giovanni & the rest of the CGM FAMILY YALL ALREADY KNOW WHAT IT IS! THIS THE MOVEMENT! And shout out to the rest of my family, fellow artists doing ya thing and all my fans and supporters you heard stay up and much love!